Peak of preventing and ending the situation of fishing boats violating foreign waters

Kien Giang fishing boats exploit aquatic products in An Minh sea area (Kien Giang).

According to the official dispatch, the People's Committee of Kien Giang province requested directors of relevant departments, branches, units, chairmen of People's Committees of coastal and island districts and cities, and heads of units and central functional forces located in the province to lead and direct the implementation of the following key tasks:

Firstly, allocate resources to synchronously, drastically and comprehensively implement tasks and solutions, both propagating and mobilizing, and monitoring, controlling, preventing and promptly handling right on shore and at sea; resolutely prevent and not let local fishing vessels and fishermen continue to violate illegal fishing in foreign waters. Do not let the work of reorganizing the apparatus affect the task of combating IUU fishing.

Second, resolutely handle administrative violations in the fisheries sector. In particular, apply violations in Resolution No. 04/NQ-HDTP, dated June 12, 2024 of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court guiding the application of a number of provisions of the Penal Code on criminal prosecution for acts related to illegal exploitation, trading, and transportation of aquatic products.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Kien Giang province presides over specific work with the Provincial Police, the Provincial Border Guard Command, the Provincial People's Procuracy, the Provincial People's Court and related sectors, urgently verify, investigate and strictly handle 3 fishing boats KG-90141-TS, KG-92796-TS, KG-95541-TS and 14 fishermen arrested by Thai authorities, and handle them according to the request of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment .

Focus on monitoring and supervising fishing vessels operating at sea 24/7 through the VMS system (voyage monitoring device) to promptly detect, notify competent authorities to investigate, verify, thoroughly and strictly handle cases of fishing vessels violating VMS regulations, especially fishing vessels with a length of 24m or more; launch a peak period of patrolling, inspecting and strictly handling IUU fishing violations in coastal waters and offshore waters of Kien Giang province; strictly handle "3 no" fishing vessels, fishing vessels without registration plates, without fishing vessel markings; buying and selling, transferring fishing vessels without changing names or owners to violate IUU fishing...

The Provincial Border Guard Command strictly controls fishing vessels entering and leaving ports to participate in fishing activities, ensuring that they have all required documents and equipment; fishing vessels must dock at designated ports and have confirmation from the fishing port authority before leaving ports; continue to carry out peak patrols and controls in Kien Giang waters, resolutely handle IUU fishing violations; firmly grasp key areas, actively propagate, mobilize, educate, and deter the fishing community in complying with legal regulations against IUU fishing.

Kien Giang Fisheries Surveillance Force patrols coastal waters in An Minh district.

Kien Giang Provincial Police continue to investigate, verify, collect documents and evidence in the case of Kien Giang fishing vessel KG-95541-TS violating Thai waters, being detained, handled and prosecuted in accordance with regulations. Continue to implement the peak period, thoroughly apply Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP of the Supreme People's Court's Council of Judges, investigate, prosecute, and try cases related to the act of sending fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters; brokering, connecting, removing, and transporting VMS equipment in violation of the law; legalizing documents for IUU shipments for export to the European market.

Strengthen the police force at the grassroots level along the coast to promptly grasp the situation, delimit the area and subjects and proactively preside over or coordinate with the fisheries management agency and border guards in monitoring and controlling fishing vessel activities to prevent and handle fishing vessels with signs of illegal exploitation in foreign waters. Coordinate with relevant departments, branches and localities to promptly notify other provinces about Kien Giang fishing vessels that are bought, sold or transferred to fishing vessel owners in other provinces to request procedures for sale according to regulations.

People's Committees of coastal districts and cities and islands must concentrate maximum resources to closely coordinate with border guards, police, and fisheries surveillance forces to both propagate and mobilize, and promptly prevent and handle early and remotely fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing, especially violating illegal seafood exploitation in foreign waters.

Propose that the functional forces of the Coast Guard Region 4 Command, the Navy Region 5 Command, the Border Guard Squadron 28, and the Fisheries Surveillance Sub-Department of Region 5 continue to organize peak patrols and controls in the sea areas bordering Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, etc. to promptly prevent and handle fishing vessels violating IUU fishing and Kien Giang fishing vessels showing signs of violating illegal fishing in foreign waters....

News and photos: THUY TRANG

Source: https://www.baokiengiang.vn/trong-tinh/cao-diem-ngan-chan-cham-dut-tinh-trang-tau-ca-vi-pham-vung-bien-nuoc-ngoai-25561.html